Tax or penalty, what a useless debate

Instead of a reasoned discussion about the merits of the Affordable Care Act, both in terms of what it does for us — no exclusions, coverage of family members to age 26, no denial of future coverage should an illness appear — or a rational addressing of how the act can be modified or improved, we have a discussion of whether it is a tax or a penalty ("Romney: It's a penalty, not a tax," July 3).

But then, this is sadly typical of the season. What a disaster this is becoming for a populace wanting facts and potential solutions instead of palaver.